The erhu is one of the traditional Chinese musical instruments, and its unique timbre and expressiveness are deeply loved by people. Erhu playing skills mainly include two aspects: bowing and fingering. Here, we will focus on the basic techniques of Erhu's bowing and fingering.
1. Bow technique
1. How to hold the bow: The Erhu bow is composed of a horsetail, a bow shaft and a bow head. When holding the bow, the bow shaft should be held in the center of the palm, with the bow head upward and the ponytail downward. The thumb and index finger should hold the bow rod, and the middle finger and ring finger should be placed under the bow rod to support the bow rod upward.
2. Bow movement: The Erhu bow can move up and down on the strings to produce different sound effects. When moving, the bow head should be kept perpendicular to the string surface, and the bow stem should be parallel to the string surface. At the same time, attention should be paid to controlling the strength and speed of the bow to produce appropriate sound effects.
3. Bow pressure: The Erhu bow can produce different sound effects by adjusting the bow pressure. The greater the pressure on the bow, the stronger the sound; the less pressure on the bow, the softer the sound. While playing, the pressure on the bow should be adjusted as needed to produce the proper sound.
2. Fingering
1. How to hold the fingerboard: The fingerboard of the erhu is made of wood and is used to press the strings to produce different sound effects. When holding the fingerboard, place your thumb and index finger below the fingerboard, place your middle finger and ring finger above the fingerboard, and press down firmly on the fingerboard.
2. Movement of fingering: The fingering of Erhu can be moved up and down on the fingerboard to produce different sound effects. When moving, keep your fingers perpendicular to the fingerboard and press down firmly on the fingerboard to produce a clear sound.
3. The strength of the fingering: Erhu fingering can produce different sound effects by adjusting the strength of the fingers. The stronger the finger force, the stronger the sound effect; the weaker the finger force, the softer the sound effect. When playing, the strength of your fingers should be adjusted as needed to produce the appropriate sound effect.